“Spanish Galleons.” Guam Recorder, March – August 1940. June 18, 2009. To that end, the early galleons, while refined in their design, tended to serve as armed platforms that could provide supporting fire and resultant smoke – the latter being used for the masked maneuvers while boarding enemy ships. Such arrangements were complemented by strict regulations that dictated the specified construction and adjustment of almost every section of the ship. http://www.sdmaritime.org. In that regard, during the Battle of Preveza in circa 1538 AD, a Venetian ship, described as a galleon, was said to have countered multiple Turkish galleys – thereby suggesting how the vessel was well-armed and yet maneuverable. A galleon also had a very short keel when compared to the length of the hull. To provide an example, a 450 toneladas galleon built in 1628 had a paltry average of just 15 sq ft per person on the ship. The general and admiral of each fleet was first selected for each expedition by the House of Trade and confirmed by the Spanish monarch and the Council of the Indies. A new Ship is automatically spawned when a player or team of players f… 1998. Such massive sizes were complemented by graceful designs, with a sharper stern, sleeker length-to-beam ratio (when compared to bulkier carracks), and more effective hull shape for carrying artillery. A typical Galleon of the time weighed 500 tons, 30 guns and 180 crew. On the other hand, the versos, with their swivel-mount and faster breech-loading mechanisms, were effective and flexible for both solid-shot and grapeshot. Consequently, the last galleons of the Spanish navy were decommissioned by the late 17th century. Core Strength: 550 HP Firepower: Very Good (10 Banks) 2 Laser Gatling Guns (non-replaceable) 6 Light LaserBall Cannons (non-replaceable) 6 … Yachts. Mateo, Jose Eugenio Borao. Point Cost: 230 VP 1. Posted By: Dattatreya Mandal King Philip III (who reigned from 1598-1621 AD) aimed to directly control the coin (specie) shipments from the Americas to Spain by stipulating how the cargo should only be transported via his royal galleons. Virtually all types of galleys had sails that could be used in favorable winds, but human effort was always the primary method of propulsion. The steward was in charge of the food stores and for dispensing rations to the crew. The highest-ranking positions on the ship were the pilot, the master and the captain. It should be noted that Guam at the time was considered to part of the Philippine Islands and it is likely that someone from Guam served onboard one of the ships used in the Manila Galleon trade. During the time of King Philip II’s reign (1556-98), the Spanish galleon increased in size and capacity. Incredibly enough, the guns, along with the powder and shot, were mostly manufactured by royal foundries and workshops (while in some cases, guns were also imported from abroad) – and as such, the Spanish relied on an ‘economical’ system where guns were specifically furnished for the galleon-type with allocated ammunition that had to be returned to the royal authorities if left unused. Driver, Marjorie G. 2005. In addition to these duties, the pages took orders from all of the sailors and apprentices on the ship. So without further ado, let us take a gander at ten things you should know about the history and evolution of the galleon – the exemplary warship of the 16th-17th century. Harking back to our romanticized notions of the veritable Spanish Armada and the early transatlantic trade routes of the 16th century, the Galleon serves as the quintessential template of the Spanish naval might. Based on the details available it seems like a pretty strong chance that the new ship type will be a 2-3 man Crew size ship with two masts/sails that rests between the Sloop and Galleon in the spectrum of things. Dutton & Co., Inc. Searles, USN Commander P.J. Crew size depended on the size of the galleon. The galleon had castles at fore and stern that were usually armed with a total of three large weapons (ballistae or catapults, for example). It possesses three masts and is currently the largest ship in the game. By circa 1560 AD, Spain alone accounted for 99 tons of gold shipped from the New World. They also made use of lateen-rigged sails. Some of the crew members were shipwrecked in the islands, and some chose to stay and married CHamoru women. Talking of furnishing, the job of the private contractors ended at the construction of the core ship itself. Just to provide an example, gold in itself was a rare metal in contemporary Europe, with scholarly estimates suggesting a measly figure of 88 tons for the entire store of gold in 15th century Europe (that could be easily made into a small 6x6x6 ft cube). No Crew Required. For example, in the Spanish Armada, the 700-850 toneladas galleons carried around 30-40 guns (divided between canones, culebrinas, and other smaller guns), while the largest 1,000-toneladas ones carried 50 guns. Yet as stalwart as the galleon appeared, she was actually quite fragile when pitted against Mother Nature, who succeeded in wrecking and sinking the galleons. The only difference is you need a minimum crew size of 3 for Galleons and 2 for Sloops to start the match. Blair, Emma Helen and James Alexander (eds.). With multiple sails and complex rigging, it took a minimum crew of 80 to operate proficiently. The primary shipyards in 16th century Spain pertained to the Basque coast of northern Spain and southern Andalusian coast, while (oddly enough) the eastern Mediterranean coastline was largely left out of the galleon-building industry. Described as ‘steaming like hell and stinking like the devil’ by one Spanish passenger in 1573 AD, the sullied water and the residues even had the tendency to attract rats – one of the major health risks inside ships during the period. As for the guns on board, many of the older wrought iron specimens were already replaced by bronze ordnance by 1588 AD. Such alterations rather reflected on many of the naval battles and encounters till the late 1630s – with the Spanish galleons showcasing their mettle (often buoyed by resourceful commanders) in numerous engagements both in the Americas and European waters. By 1520s, a solution was hatched in the form of the averia – a special tax levied on goods traded across the Atlantic, and the money, in turn, was used to fund the crafting of warships that were to escort the merchant vessels. True Speed Value: 4.166667 Manoeuvrability: Poor 1. The Spanish Governor of the Mariana Islands and the Saga of the Palacio. However, it can hold 10 more cargo than a frigate, which will likely be needed for food to make up for the speed while traveling. For most ships of the era, much of the wastewater, sea-water, and human excrement were collected in the bilge area of the vessel – which corresponded to the space below the hold. To that end, records of the Spanish navy from the early 17th century show that each galleon had an average of 90 to 100 crew members, excluding the soldiers. Moreover, proper rationing onboard was a common practice in galleons, with most sailors given their daily share of the ship biscuit made of wheat, menestra – a hearty stew of chickpeas, rice, lentils, and broad beans, and rough red wine. The Galleon is a sailable ship in Sea of Thieves. Crew. In 1526 AD, the Spanish crown decided upon the flota system that basically entailed convoys of vessels guarded by the armed escort ships. Water constables were charged with the rationing of water. Consequently, the galleons were breeding grounds for various diseases, including yellow fever (and its high mortality rate) exported from the Caribbean. As the time passed, more and more robust clipper ships were made with iron keels and strong inner frame work. These individuals conceivably could have engaged with the CHamoru people in interactions of trade and cultural exchange under various circumstances. Please let us know via the ‘Contact Us’ link, provided both above the top bar and at the bottom bar of the page. Phillips, Carla Rahn (transl.). The vision here is that the competition here will be fairer for everyone. One such case was the Frenchman, Antoine Limarie Boucourt who was the pilot on the Santissima Trinidad in 1755. Interestingly enough, the Spaniards themselves used the term galeón (meaning – ‘armed merchant ship’)  for one of their vessels that were designed to fight the Barbary pirates in circa 1517 AD. Historian Angus Konstam noted how in the 16th century, the Spanish followed the naval doctrine of ship artillery being used as supporting weapons. The reduction in their war-capability possibly also reflects how the Spaniards faced little to no opposition on their maritime trade routes, especially during the period between the 1590s till 1620s. Galleons were q… The Sea of Thieves max crew size has been a point of contention between players and developers since the first beta launched. Viking style: The wiki article is pretty good and has an excellent list of external links for the layman. Added to the crew number were the other men on board, including the soldiers (who were often carried in ratios of one soldier per four toneladas in the 1630s), officers, and assorted passengers. By 1588 AD, there were only around 20 galleons among over 120 ships of the Armada – but they formed the offensive ‘spearhead’ of the much-vaunted fleet. Many were orphans or were poor, taken from the streets of Seville, Mexico and Manila. He needed to ensure that all the material and human resources required to reach its destination were obtained and that the passengers and cargo were delivered in good condition. For starters, the experienced sailors, as opposed to the soldiers, were given the responsibility of operating the artillery. In fact, during the campaign of 1588, the English commanders preferred to engage in artillery duels, thereby not allowing the Spanish galleons and other warships to come in close range. Are the sails square-rigged or fore-and-aft? The pilot was responsible for the navigation of the ship, ensuring that the vessel safely reached its destination. The youngest of the crew were the pages or ship’s boys. Essentially, this translated to a Spanish crown’s near monopoly on the transatlantic trade route that not only covered coins and ingots of silver and gold but also a wealth of other valuable items like emeralds and pearls. In that regard, while earlier galleons and other warships were the products of ill-conceived ‘agreements’ that forced shipbuilders to work within the confines of royal shipyards, by the early 17th century, the crown offered incentives to private contractors and financiers to build their warships from the ground up. 12 Fighters 8. A more accurate sloop would be the length of the galleon and could be sailed by 8-15 but would need a crew of 30 or more to effectively fight her. 1 Spotter 4. The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Mangilao: Micronesian Area Research Center, University of Guam. The boatswain mate was primarily charged with being in command of the ships auxiliary craft. Furthermore, in times of war, the number of soldiers could actually be increased – thus transforming the galleon into a well-armed transport ship instead of a royal-sanctioned commercial vessel. Galeon de Manila. On the slightly brighter side, especially in Spanish circumstances, their predominantly Mediterranean diet did guard against the onset of scurvy, which was called the ‘Dutch Disease’. These crafts were used to load and unload the ship, to tow the ship when needed and to go in front of the ship to take soundings to avoid shallow water. Officially, they were to take orders from sailors and officers pertaining to the ship’s handling, but many times their superiors used them for personal services such as cooking, cleaning and grooming. All Rights Reserved. Since her launching, a crew between 15 to 35 people have manned her across the seas and oceans around the world. In essence, the galleons, especially the larger specimens, were perceived as floating fortresses (albeit with finer design considerations when compared to carracks) that could accommodate its fair share of defenders – in the form of well-trained musketeers who could perform boarding actions. Mangilao, GU: Micronesian Area Research Center, University of Guam. Typically 130 feet (40 meters) along the keel and 30 feet (9.1 meters) across the beam, galleons had three full masts and three decks that could hold a maximum of 800 crew and passengers. Simply put, most of the ships, including the galleon varieties, were undermanned during their cargo-carrying voyages across the Atlantic. Stats . 8 Riggers 7. Sloops are highly maneuverable but only carry two cannons on board. 1 Build info 1.1 Additional Components 2 Additional info 2.1 Base Values 2.2 Level increment 3 Gallery Once you have built a Large Shipyard, you will have the option to build the Skeleton for the Galleon. He was responsible for not only obtaining the cargo, but the crew, ship’s equipment, arms and provisions. New York: E.P. And this space was rather reduced for the rank-and-file mariner, especially with the captain and his officers occupying the relatively ‘comfortable’ quarters of the upper deck. Less than a third of the crew was Spanish and they usually held key positions onboard the galleon. ... A typical crew would consist of around 200 men. Their employment was for the duration of the expedition. His duties also included overseeing the re-provisioning and moving of the provisions around the ship as needed. The enemy's guns more often damaged the rigging and masts, and inflicted serious wounds on the crew from flying splinters when shot crashed through wood. In Sid Meier's Pirates! As for the guns themselves, according to Angus Konstam, there were several varieties, including the larger canones (cannon), culebrinas (culverins), pedreros (stone-shotted guns), bombardettas (wrought-iron guns), and versos (swivel guns). Now while from the mathematical perspective, many of the galleons were possibly undermanned in regards to their weight, the available space for crew members onboard had always been cramped. War Galleon The War Galleon is the first remarkable one of the family, with a good size crew capacity and good firepower. The carpenter and caulker were responsible for the maintenance of the hull. However it served the dual purpose of being both a Man-O-War and also a treasure/merchant ship. One of the team members remembers hearing about some formula that looked at the ratio of cycle time to takt time to come up with the, so-called, optimal crew size. A single captured prize could make a pirate rich--if he caught her. It is the most heavily armed civilian craft, and, with 4 Heavy LaserBall Cannons on each broadside, 2 Medium Carronades on the aftercastle, and a ninth rear-facing, Heavy LaserBall Cannon as a stern chaser, could possibly serve as a warship for an independent world, or free port. Because of the experience required for this position, the average age of pilots was over 40 years. Depending on the size of your crew, you’ll be sailing on one of two ships in Sea of Thieves.A one- or two-pirate crew means you’ll be sailing aboard a sloop, while a crew … Clumsy and slow, but seaworthy, this ship above all others fired a pirate’s imagination. The officer in charge of the artillery was a sergeant. Intelligent and skilled sailors could advance to the position of gunner or sea officer and in some cases, if they had the means and wherewithal to stop work and attend classes in Seville, they could eventually advance to the position of pilot. In addition to Spaniards, many crew members were native Filipino or Mexicans who brought with them their language, customs and other traditions and beliefs that both impressed, and in many cases, were adopted by the CHamoru people. In essence, sea crafts were built for specific purposes and their individual designs and schemas reflected such a function-based direction. 20: Bibliography of Micronesia, ships through Micronesia, Cumulative Index. The Phoenicians were apparently the first to introduce the bireme (about 700 bc), which had two banks of oars staggered on either side According to historian Angus Konstam, the various sections of the galleon decks were named after castle elements. Latest. The average age of sailors was 28 or 29, while the oldest were between 40 and 50. It is a single mast vessel with a maximum crew capacity of two. 2014. Gunners were expert sailors that had mastered the use of the cannon. As others have stated, the answer depends very much on the specifics of the ship. So by the 1590s, till the mid-17th century, the galleons tended to be even more trimmed, with their capacities averaging around 500 toneladas. They were good for fighting in relatively still waters but lacke… Unfortunately, in spite of the many modifications (both structural and organizational) made on the Spanish galleon, naval warfare in the decades of the mid 17th century changed significantly in terms of formations and maneuvers. The Egyptians, Cretans, and other ancient peoples used sail-equipped galleys for both war and commerce. Princess Yachts Adds ElectroSea’s New Clearline System to Yachts Over 90 Feet. Smaller galleons functioned with a crew of 50, while the crew of the larger galleons could number more than 400. Mortality rates were high, especially in the early years of the Manila galleon trade. Most were entered into service at the age of eight, although boys as young as seven were known to be pressed into service. She carried 77 crewmen, 18 gunners, transported 317 soldiers and 26 families, as well as provisions and cargo. For example, while the earlier galleons had capacities for 120 toneladas (Spanish tons), the post-1560 galleons tended to cross thresholds of 330 toneladas. In both respects, it is comparable to the frigate. However, the galleon also shared some design features with the nao, given its sturdier construction and stronger sailing rig. In the Mediterranean, oared galleys were common as fighting ships, and by the early 16thcentury these carried cannons at the front. Whereas earlier patterns entailed the experienced (but still personal) judgment of the generational shipbuilders, late 16th and early 17th centuries brought forth the ideals of mathematical precision and measurements that dictated the flow of work and design elements of maritime vessels. 1 Helmsman 5. These well-armed vessels relied on sails while being also accommodated with secondary oars (or sweeps) until the latter mechanism was totally relegated by the 1560s. She served as a hospital ship after 1791, and was finally broken up in 1813. 2002. More Yachts. Apprentices were sailors in training. How many sails does the ship have? The Golden Age of the Spanish galleon culminated at the Battle of the Downs in 1639, where the warships, although heavily battered, held their own against a larger Dutch fleet. Overall the crew size varied with size of the ship, and the available manpower. Small size makes it harder to hit in fights; Cons. ... For their size, Galleons had great speed (about eight knots). The guns were also supported by larger four-wheeled carriages instead of the feeble two-wheel ones. Suffice it to say, the canones and culebrinas (subdivided into various weights and sizes) were the mainstays of the Spanish galleon; and the capacity of the vessel itself often mirrored the number of guns on board. The caulker was tasked with filling the juncture of the hull planking and deck with oakum and tar. Because of their age (older than the pages and younger than the sailors), the apprentices many times were the “onboard whipping boys” and provided an outlet for the frustration of the crew. However, in practice, the ratio was far more skewed in favor of the cargo (rather than the crew) with figures of one person (gente de mar or mariner) per 5.5 toneladas, since the 1550s, and one person per 6.25 toneladas since the 1630s. Only obtaining the cargo, but seaworthy, this ship above all others fired a pirate ’ s indios the. Between 15 to 35 people have manned her across the seas and oceans the... Received a document certifying him as a hospital ship after 1791, and the! While it can not maneuver well like the smaller 500-toneladas varieties carried 24 guns, while his assistant the! Ships officers were foreigners the feeble two-wheel ones carpenter was the supreme commander of the hull one side every! 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